Alums Dubbed Emerging Scholars
Two graduates of 色情视频s Minority Access to Research Careers program are recognized for their academic research by Diverse magazine.
San Diego State alumni Kristian Brown and Geanncarlo Lugo-Villarino were recognized as two of the nation鈥檚 top 12 emerging scholars by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.
The magazine, a national higher education trade publication, recently released its annual list of emerging scholars 鈥攁 select group of minority academics recognized for their innovative work in the field of science.
Brown and Lugo-Villarino鈥檚 outstanding academic achievements, combined with their resilience in the face of personal challenges, distinguish them from other scholars throughout the nation.
At 19, Brown, who earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry and molecular biology at 色情视频, survived a rare neurological disease that completely paralyzed him for nine months. After bouncing back, he now dedicates his work to giving people a second chance at life.
Since receiving his Ph.D. in engineering at Wayne State University, he has earned numerous awards and is the author of 11 publications. Currently, Brown is a transplant surgeon at Wayne State University, and assistant adjunct professor of biomedical engineering.
Geanncarlo Lugo-Villarino was once told he'd never amount to anything; now, he works in biomedical research.
Lugo-Villarino was often told he was never going to amount to anything. He said people looked down on him and his 2.8 high school GPA, but with help and encouragement from diversity program mentors, he made an amazing transformational journey.
Starting at Southwestern College, he went on to earn his bachelor鈥檚 degree in cellular and molecular biology at 色情视频. He eventually received his Ph.D. in immunology from Harvard University. Lugo-Villarino is currently doing postdoctoral studies at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Toulouse, France.
MARC scholars
Growing up in challenging neighborhoods with very little peer support, both Brown and Lugo-Villarino agree on the impact academic programs and mentors had on their individual careers.
At a time in Brown鈥檚 life when not many people believed in him and he was hearing a lot more 鈥渘os鈥� than 鈥測eses鈥� he credits the mentoring he received from 色情视频鈥檚 Minority Access to Research and Careers program for encouraging him to continue.
鈥淔ew were willing to take a chance on me and even fewer believed that I could actually become a viable, impactful scientist,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭he program gave me the one 'yes' that I needed. I have never looked back.鈥�
The 色情视频 program identifies high-achieving underrepresented minority scholars in the area of biomedical science. Through the program, each student is given monetary support, and is paired up with a professor-mentor to conduct research in a lab.
Lugo-Villarino agrees, 鈥淭he mentoring and program's family environment made all the difference for me to believe in myself and be convinced that I could go all the way in higher education.鈥�
Maureen Gibbins, a mentor to both scholars and coordinator for the Bridges to Baccalaureate program, said watching their journey through 色情视频鈥檚 diversity programs was inspiring.
鈥溕槭悠碘�檚 MARC program has become a transformative gateway for minority scholars, expanding their horizons to reach that house upon the hill that they once never thought to be achievable,鈥� Gibbins said.
Paying it forward
Seeking ways to express their gratitude to all the people who have helped them get to where they are today, both Brown and Lugo-Villarino find satisfaction in mentoring future scientists from minority backgrounds.
Lugo-Villarano said the best way to honor his mentors is to do for a new generation of students what they did for him.
鈥淚 discovered that mentoring students empowers you with a sense of indescribable fulfillment that no money or prize could provide for.鈥�
Brown agrees with the importance of paying it forward.
鈥淚 mentor because I was mentored," Brown said. "I was taught that mentorship was not an act but a way of thinking. Mentorship is inextricable with what I do.鈥�
Emerging scholar
When asked about how it feels to be recognized as an emerging scholar, Brown focused on his future.
鈥淚t is a great honor and is indeed humbling,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淏ut I have so many goals to achieve so the operative word in this recognition is 鈥榚merging;鈥� I am indeed a work in progress.鈥�
